1
as in to activate
to cause to function
a light actuated by a motion detector the alarm system actuates the door locks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to move
to set or keep in motion
hearing depends on sound vibrations that actuate the complex mechanism of that sensory organ, the ear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of actuate
Creating such complex structures combining soft and rigid features and actuating them with artificial muscles would further our understanding of natural kinematic structures.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 6 Mar. 2026
The robots respond differently depending on how researchers actuate them.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
With 265-front and 295-rear summer meat connecting them to the pavement, the CLE53 never felt lacking in this department, and the pedal was rather pleasant to actuate.
—Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
These robotic textiles could sense, actuate, move around, bear a load, stay resilient to accidental overload and safely interact with humans at the same time.
—Evgueni Filipov, The Conversation, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for actuate
IEEE Spectrum, 6 Mar. 2026
The robots respond differently depending on how researchers actuate them.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
With 265-front and 295-rear summer meat connecting them to the pavement, the CLE53 never felt lacking in this department, and the pedal was rather pleasant to actuate.
—Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
These robotic textiles could sense, actuate, move around, bear a load, stay resilient to accidental overload and safely interact with humans at the same time.
—Evgueni Filipov, The Conversation, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for actuate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuate
Verb
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Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
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Even 15 minutes of disconnection allows the brain’s default mode network to activate, when memory consolidation and creative connections actually occur.—
William Jones
June 8,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
Verb
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That stands in contrast to the Nasdaq, which has already moved to fast-track SpaceX's inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index, leading to concerns that new retail investors could become the cash cow of exit liquidity for legacy SpaceX shareholders.—
Katie Foley,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
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In the production, directed by Jo Bonney, Susanna arrives there before realizing what has happened, a scene change that moves briskly enough to surprise you in the audience too.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
Verb
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In 1984, following Operation Blue Star, the assassination of India's prime minister by her Sikh bodyguard triggered horrific mob violence that killed thousands of Sikhs across the country, pushing many more to flee.—
Akash Pamarthy,
NPR,
6 June 2026
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Stopping diabetes medications can trigger hyperglycemic crises like diabetic ketoacidosis which can require ER visits and sometimes hospitalization.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Ties have cooled in recent years between the two sides – while Pyongyang drove closer to Moscow.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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Advocates have long criticized the conditions at the Aurora facility, and those complaints — alongside concerns that more facilities could open in the state — helped drive HB 1276’s contents.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Backup catcher Sebastián Rivero sparked the Angels’ second-inning rally with a one-out single.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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The video and the SCE data offer proof that the 100-year-old line, which hadn’t been used since the early 1970s, became re-electrified and sparked the fire that killed 19 people and destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena and surrounding areas, attorneys say.—
Tony Saavedra,
Daily News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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For example, the prescription offered by those who saw a generally healthy way of life as the right way to prevent disease helped propel cleaning up the filthy cities of the Industrial Revolution—and that really did reduce the impact of common fevers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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Black Moon Lilith in Sagittarius opposes the new moon in Gemini, propelling us to revolt against the status quo and insist on autonomy.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Every acre-foot of water requires enough electricity to power a typical home for several months, so higher electricity costs in California raise the price substantially even before accounting for costs related to land, permitting, and labor.—
Sara Sutherland,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
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Fortunately, so many of the minerals needed to power our economy, strengthen our national security and rebuild our industrial capacity are right beneath our feet.—
Rich Nolan,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Actuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuate. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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